In the 11-year period of 2005 through 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 64% (232) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

3 Months or 3 Years?UPDATE 08/18/09: The original article from the MetroNews has been updated to reflect new information, as well as a new time frame for owning the pit bull. Authorities now say the pit bull was purchased "three years" ago from a relative who lives in Maryland. To determine if charges apply, authorities are checking on the dog's history. Deputy Burrows told reporters, "I need to wait and speak with the agency where the dog is from to see if they had any complaints."

The Cumberland Times-News, however, continues to report that the offending pit bull is "1-year old," making a purchase three years ago, of the dog that killed a 3-day old baby, impossible.

08/17/09: 3-Day Old Killed by Pet Pit Bull
Hardy County, WV -- In a developing story, a 3-day old Hardy County boy is dead after being attacked by a pet pit bull. Sheriff's Department investigators say the boy's mother had put him down for bed Saturday night when she had to leave the room to answer a phone call. When she returned she found the pit bull, who had been given to the family just three months earlier, close to her son along with a mixed-breed German Shepherd, both described as family pets.

"Investigators say the mother tried to back the dogs away and when she moved closer to the German Shepherd the pit bull grabbed the boy from his bed. The mother told police she choked the dog, but it wouldn't let go of her son.A teenage daughter then came into the room, cornered the dogs and forced them out an open window.Police say the mother tried to help her son until emergency crews arrived. He died on the way to a helicopter-landing zone.Both dogs were put down.The family could be charged with harboring a vicious animal. An investigation continues.The pit bull was purchased from a relative who lives in Maryland three months ago."

14 comments:

Anonymous | 8/17/2009 6:32 PM | Flag"...the baby and the family pit bull, Nila, was in the room. The mother left the room to answer the phone, and when she came back, she says Nila was acting weird around the baby, according to Burrows. Burrows says the family's German Shepherd mix dog, Harley, also came in and both dogs began acting weird. Then, police say Nila grabbed the baby by the head, shook it around, and eventually tossed him in the air."

Trigger | 8/17/2009 11:05 PM | FlagPushed the dogs out through an open window:

"The mother’s 17-year-old daughter then entered the room, cornered the dogs and eventually was able to push them through an open window. The mother assisted the baby until emergency medical personnel arrived. The child succumbed to his injuries while en route to the helicopter landing zone."--http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_229124302.html

Anonymous | 8/18/2009 4:21 AM | FlagThis has to be what.... DBRF number 60 in under four years for the Pit Bull Community?

Anonymous | 8/18/2009 4:56 PM | FlagDid anyone notice the signifigance of this attack? The same "irresponsible owner" owned a pit bull and a German shepard. Both dogs were present, and in the toddlers bedroom. Yet only the pit bull killed the child. The German shepard had no part in the attack. So if pit bulls kill due to irresponsible owners, why didn't the German shepard join in? This is whats known as a scientifically controlled evaluation. It is the breed. Period. Ditto for the 2nd most recent fatal attack in Lessburg. The family pit bulls killed the guy in his own house. Yet, the same family owned a pug, that was loose in the house. The pug never attacked the owner - in fact it was also killed by the pit bulls....following the nutters "irresponsible owner" logic - the pug should have at least mauled a family member.

foolMeOnce | 8/18/2009 8:44 PM | FlagThis is so horrific and makes my blood boil. The Pit Community should be ashamed! They talk out of both sides of their mouths, claiming pits are nanny dogs and will only lick you to death and are so loyal, etc, but when something like this happens, they rail against the fellow pit nutter and say, "What an idiot! You should never leave children around any dog unsupervised!" Well, what is the truth, nutters? Nanny dogs, or never to be trusted around children?

I also hate the way they like to say that pits can't possibly be human aggressive because man-biters were always culled, yet when a man-biter gets put down, they cry foul -- poor doggy! Not his fault! He should be rehabilitated and given a good canine certificate and sent to another (unsuspecting) family to live out his doggy days with love and kisses!"

Will the madness never end?????

Anonymous | 8/19/2009 9:36 PM | FlagThe madness will never end as long as people are making big money off these breeds, and governments refuse to stand up to the lobbyists and say enough is enough.

Trigger | 8/22/2009 1:51 PM | Flag"Deputy Burrows says the mother had spent the afternoon showing her newborn off to friends and family members after bringing him home from the hospital earlier in the day. The family could be charged with harboring a vicious animal. Deputy Burrows says the family had only had the pit bull since May when a the victim's uncle had to leave the area."

FoolMeOnce | 8/23/2009 8:31 AM | FlagI'm a very empathetic person, and every fiber of my being feels intense sorrow for this new mother. I can imagine what it would have been like to have my newborn child killed by a family pet in front of my own eyes, and then to try in vain to save my infant's life. I can imagine it, and it makes me sob in heaves. And then there is the guilt she must be feeling -- the terrible hindsight -- because this was a completely preventable tragedy. One of my good friends loves pit bulls. She had a "lovable" pit. When discussing pit bulls, she hits all of the pit nutter talking points. She talks about having her pit lovingly curl up around her newborn. I know that she believes the propaganda with all her being, and believes the things reported on this site are the real propaganda.So, I am sure that this poor new mother must have also believed the nanny dog myth. How horrible that she had to learn the truth through the ultimate sacrifice a mother can make.

Anonymous | 8/25/2009 8:40 AM | FlagI personally know this family and i just want to let everyone know that they have had Nila the pit bull since she was a puppy. This family has raised Nila, it was never bought from a family member in MD.

FoolMeOnce | 8/27/2009 10:08 AM | FlagThat is so sad, Anon. I'm sure this family never ever thought Nila could or would do such a thing. I'm sure they never abused their pit bull and loved her. It is just so so very sad, and my heart breaks for this family.